Obstructions

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msfanciful
msfanciful Member Posts: 559
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi,

Lately since I have been on this site, it seems to be a huge number of ovarian cancer survivors who have developed intestinal/bowel obstructions.

I am just beginning to see the depths of this ugly disease and how it affects more than just having a hysterectomy. It has been three years for me since my diagnosis and my oncologist has been keeping a close observation and examination of me every 2-3 months.

My question is this; if an intestinal obstruction is beginning to occur, how long after the hysterectomy does the symptoms begin to appear? If it has been three years for me, does it mean there a less possibility of developing an obstruction?

After seeing all the postings regarding obstructions, I now understand why at every exam, my doctor asks me "any changes in your bowel?" My answer so far is no.

This disease just does not stop does it? Just when I think I've mastered all of the worst-case scenarios, along comes this realization. :-(

Just looking for answers to this disconcerting issue.

Thanks

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #2
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    Generally, the bowel
    Generally, the bowel obstruction is caused by either a tumor in the intestine, or adhesions (scar tissue) from surgery. In your case, you are probably too far out for adhesions. If you start to have symptoms, please call your doctor right away. Those can be pain, vomiting, constipation - but not necessarily all of those.

    Carlene
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #3
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    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Generally, the bowel
    Generally, the bowel obstruction is caused by either a tumor in the intestine, or adhesions (scar tissue) from surgery. In your case, you are probably too far out for adhesions. If you start to have symptoms, please call your doctor right away. Those can be pain, vomiting, constipation - but not necessarily all of those.

    Carlene

    obstructions
    I went to my oncologist today and yes I found out that as far as adhesions go I may indeed be too far out for them to be a concern.

    My oncologist did confirm your statement that if I began to have symptoms i.e., the vomiting,constipation and pain that it is usually an indication that the cancer is growing withing the intestines and beginning to create problems.

    Today, the exam was good but with this disease? Who knows what the next day will bring?

    Thank you for your information, because my oncologist was impressed that I knew the right questions to ask and why. I told about our csn site and how blessed I was to find that it had the most beautiful and experienced ladies I have ever known.

    Thanks again,

    Sharon
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183
    #4
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    msfanciful said:

    obstructions
    I went to my oncologist today and yes I found out that as far as adhesions go I may indeed be too far out for them to be a concern.

    My oncologist did confirm your statement that if I began to have symptoms i.e., the vomiting,constipation and pain that it is usually an indication that the cancer is growing withing the intestines and beginning to create problems.

    Today, the exam was good but with this disease? Who knows what the next day will bring?

    Thank you for your information, because my oncologist was impressed that I knew the right questions to ask and why. I told about our csn site and how blessed I was to find that it had the most beautiful and experienced ladies I have ever known.

    Thanks again,

    Sharon

    Sharon
    Bless your lucky stars Woman!!! It sounds to me that you have absolutely nothing to worry about, look at me. I'm the one going through all this obstruction crap (pardon the pun). Currently in the hospital trying to get this thing under control. So it does sound to me that you are doing awesome and don't look for trouble where non exists. Enjoy yourself and each day that you are in remission. What a wonderful place to be. Love and hugs

    Linda
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #5
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    Intestines
    The problem is an anatomy one. Since the ovaries are not enclosed, the only place for the cancer to go is to the intestines. Hence, the reason so many women get mis-diagnosed. They end up going to a gastro-enterologist with digestive issues and the primary problem is the ovaries. I wish we'd train the gastro-enterologists to look for ovarian cancer more frequently, especially when they can't find anything wrong. Every doctor told my mother it was stress or IBD until she looked like she was pregnant and they could not deny there was a problem. Had the damn gastro guy considered anything else, my mother and probably many more women would be diagnosed far earlier. But they keep considering this a gynecological disease. In my opinion, it's both.
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #6
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    dorion said:

    Sharon
    Bless your lucky stars Woman!!! It sounds to me that you have absolutely nothing to worry about, look at me. I'm the one going through all this obstruction crap (pardon the pun). Currently in the hospital trying to get this thing under control. So it does sound to me that you are doing awesome and don't look for trouble where non exists. Enjoy yourself and each day that you are in remission. What a wonderful place to be. Love and hugs

    Linda

    Hello,
    Since I have been on
    Hello,

    Since I have been on this site, I have been so humbly overwhelmed with the strength that you (as well as many of the ladies), possess through this horrible disease. :-(.

    I pray for you and your beautiful daughter everyday. Seeing your experience is what made me to first realize how horrible this disease really is! Its just not fair!

    I pray that your spirits remain high through all of this and even though it does nothing to make you feel better I'm sure; just know you definitely not alone. Because I too do not know what a good night's sleep is ever since this diagnosis in 2007, because cancer is always just sitting there in the back of my mind and I'm wondering "okay, what's coming next?"

    Now I'm not in remission though, I am currently going through my third chemo treatments for the next 2 months, but I'm taking an oral medication called "Etopocide", which seems to be giving me a break in that the side effects aren't too bad, so I feel like I'm in remission but I am making the most of this abscence of downtime.

    I think you are wonderful and I am blessed to connect with such a bright light as yours. So if it is not presumptious of me.. may I add you as a friend? I would love to keep up with your progress and how well you are doing. I just feel so good about you!

    PLEASE STAY STRONG Linda because you've got a lot of friends praying soooo hard for you.

    Love,

    Sharon
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183
    #7
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    msfanciful said:

    Hello,
    Since I have been on
    Hello,

    Since I have been on this site, I have been so humbly overwhelmed with the strength that you (as well as many of the ladies), possess through this horrible disease. :-(.

    I pray for you and your beautiful daughter everyday. Seeing your experience is what made me to first realize how horrible this disease really is! Its just not fair!

    I pray that your spirits remain high through all of this and even though it does nothing to make you feel better I'm sure; just know you definitely not alone. Because I too do not know what a good night's sleep is ever since this diagnosis in 2007, because cancer is always just sitting there in the back of my mind and I'm wondering "okay, what's coming next?"

    Now I'm not in remission though, I am currently going through my third chemo treatments for the next 2 months, but I'm taking an oral medication called "Etopocide", which seems to be giving me a break in that the side effects aren't too bad, so I feel like I'm in remission but I am making the most of this abscence of downtime.

    I think you are wonderful and I am blessed to connect with such a bright light as yours. So if it is not presumptious of me.. may I add you as a friend? I would love to keep up with your progress and how well you are doing. I just feel so good about you!

    PLEASE STAY STRONG Linda because you've got a lot of friends praying soooo hard for you.

    Love,

    Sharon

    an honor
    My Dearest Sharon
    Thank you for your sweet words and your encouragement. It would be my honor for you to add me to your list. (I think you were referring to me weren't you? LOL)
    As long as you are keeping this "B" of a disease at bay you MUST not loose sleep over it girl. Take each day as it comes and deal with whatever comes along with stregnth and courage. Because I think this dreadful horrid crap lives off of fear. I'm trying to keep it together and try to thank God for each day that I can still walk and do the normal things in life, even though it doesn't include going to the bathroom normally.lol
    I look forward to many more dialogs with you and you just keep up your spirits too. Some have gotten to hear those amazing words NED no evidence of disease. So why not any of use? Love to you Sharon and thank you so much again. Glad I met you. By the way, you are very beautiful. Love your picture!
    Linda
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #8
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    Lisa13Q said:

    Intestines
    The problem is an anatomy one. Since the ovaries are not enclosed, the only place for the cancer to go is to the intestines. Hence, the reason so many women get mis-diagnosed. They end up going to a gastro-enterologist with digestive issues and the primary problem is the ovaries. I wish we'd train the gastro-enterologists to look for ovarian cancer more frequently, especially when they can't find anything wrong. Every doctor told my mother it was stress or IBD until she looked like she was pregnant and they could not deny there was a problem. Had the damn gastro guy considered anything else, my mother and probably many more women would be diagnosed far earlier. But they keep considering this a gynecological disease. In my opinion, it's both.

    I agree!
    I went to a gastroentologist 5 months prior to being diagnosed. No diagnostic workup was done. I was told I have IBS and was told to drink a fiber drink daily. I suffered for 5months until I had a full blown obstruction. With an unknown partial obstruction I went back to the gastro doc who told me to take miralax, went back the next day he orders zantac, two days later I am in the ER where finally they do a ct scan.
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #9
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    nancy591 said:

    I agree!
    I went to a gastroentologist 5 months prior to being diagnosed. No diagnostic workup was done. I was told I have IBS and was told to drink a fiber drink daily. I suffered for 5months until I had a full blown obstruction. With an unknown partial obstruction I went back to the gastro doc who told me to take miralax, went back the next day he orders zantac, two days later I am in the ER where finally they do a ct scan.

    Wow Lisa and Nancy,
    This had
    Wow Lisa and Nancy,

    This had to make you totally angry!

    Thats the other thing I want to express to anyone going through journey, be sure that your doctors absolutely listen to you; no ifs ands or buts and they should also have a good bed-side manner.

    If you do not feel comfortable with them start looking around!

    I know people whose lives are over because their doctors "seemed like they didn't listen to them."

    If this phrase ever enters your mind, leave!

    Sorry you ladies had to go through that.

    Sharon

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